Here are some random tips and answers to questions people have been asking me regarding the Everest Base Camp trek that are important to note! You do not need to go through an agency. Keep in mind this was all organized independently by me and my group during low season, without a porter and guide, which brings the price down significantly.
Cost: A complete breakdown of costs total per category for 14 days. Each day I budgeted between $20-30.
- Two trekking permits (Nepal and National Park): $55
- Flight roundtrip Kathmandu to Lukla: $308
- Gear (sleeping bag, clothes, etc.): $150
- Food and Water: $275
- Lodging: $10 (free or up to $1 per day)
- Guide: $30 ($15-20 per day usually, includes tip)
- Shower: $5
- TOTAL ~$830
Food costs, lodging, gear, and misc. are all approximate. This could be much cheaper, notably without the flight, skimping on food and snacks, and doing it without a guide. That being said it would be much more expensive if you go during high season, have a guide, porter, take showers, do laundry, or simply trek for a longer amount of time.
Altitude Pills: I did not take any altitude pills. I had a ton of Diamox pills, as most people do just in case, but I vowed to only take it if I felt any AMS symptoms. Even when I did start to feel bad, I still did not take them. My body dealt with it on my own. You can purchase them anywhere on the trek.
Training: I did not train at all. If you’re an active person in average physical condition, you’ll be fine. There were people of all ages doing the trek. If I were to train, I would walk/run hills or uphill on a treadmill for maybe 1-2 hours a day. What you really need is strong mental fitness and willpower 🙂 Regardless of fitness ability, it will still be hard. You walk for around 5-8 hours a day. Plus, as the oxygen level starts to decrease, everything becomes exponentially more difficult.
Lodging: We stayed in guest houses along the way. These were basic 1-2 bedroom rooms . You’re required to also have your meals there. Lodging is inexpensive during low season, ranging from free (if you eat there) to $2. Most are heated by dung stove (mm yum) in the common room. I slept with all my layers and thermals in the season sleeping with the blankets over me. It was still cold in the rooms but I got warm quickly once in my sleeping bag. In the spring and summer I believe it’s possible to tent camp.
Water: Water is plentiful. We filled up our water bottles along the way for free at restaurants, lodges, and taps, but put an iodine/chlorine pill every time we did. In 30 minutes you can drink your water! Water bottles can be purchased so you don’t have to wait to drink them, but these can get to about $3.50 per bottle the higher you go.
Bathrooms: Bathrooms leave much to be desired. Mostly squatters. Bring toilet paper everywhere. At one point I was in a little shack which simply had a hole in wooden slats. There was about a 10ft pile of poop underneath me and all I could do was hover and pray that I would not fall in.
Time of Year/Weather: Go during the dry season, which is October – May. Monsoon season will be too cloudy and wet. October – November is high season as the weather is crystal clear. December – February is low season as it is the coldest part of the year. However, early December was still bearable and the weather was perfect during the day. We got sun every single day! There weren’t as many people and this was very ideal. During high season there are tons of people packed on to the trails in a queue. It is so much more enjoyable without the crowds. However, it would have been nice to not be freezing during the night. Trade offs.
Showers/Laundry: A hot shower costs between $3-6 in the mountains. This adds up. I showered once during the entire trek. No one else showers so there’s just no point. You will smell together, it’s not a big deal. You can do a freezing cold shower for free but when it’s already THAT cold, this is the last thing you want to do. Laundry can be done, but again, pricey. Hand washing laundry is possible and then you can dry by the dung stove.
Clothes: Bring ONLY the essentials to keep your bag light. You will repeat all your clothing and wear the same thing nearly everyday. This was what I wore since it was so cold.
- Solid hiking shoes (bring from home, though I bought in Kathmandu)
- 1 fleece jacket
- 1 down jacket
- Two long sleeve hiking shirts
- 1 yoga pant
- 1 trekking pant
- 1 thermal pants
- 1 thermal long sleeve top
- 6 pairs underwear
- 3 sports bras
- 2 pairs trekking socks
- 1 pair wool socks
- 1 beanie
- 1 Buff convertible scarf/headband
- 1 pair thick gloves
- 1 sandal/house shoes to relax in
- 1 hat
- Sunglasses
Gear: Other random essentials to bring.
- Big backpack (40L or more probably)
- Daypack
- Quick dry towel
- Sleeping bag (four or three season if it’s winter)
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Tissue paper / baby wipes for your ghetto shower
- Trekking poles (I didn’t use but many people do)
- Nalgene water bottle
- Headlamp
- Sunscreen
- Pain-relief meds
- Water purification tablets
- First aid kit
- Camera
- Phone
- Kindle
- External battery (this will save your life)
- Journal and pen
Meals: Tea houses have standard Dal Bhat, dumplings, and also western food. I got sick of the Asian food and just started eating pizza, omelettes, and toast. Food costs between $3-8, depending on how high you are.
Snacks: Bring chocolate with you. Bring a billion Clif Bars. Bring nuts and almonds. Everything gets more and more expensive the higher you go since they have to carry everything up (there are no roads or cars here, someone is carrying EVERYTHING up on their back). A single chocolate bar got up to $3.50.
Trekking partners: It’s easy to find others to trek with in the hostels around Kathmandu. Trekking with others is preferable in my opinion, so you have company and are motivated. It’s much more fun. Plus, it’s safer. I met people who were trekking alone who still had a wonderful time but would have preferred to do it with others. You can also definitely find people on the way to tag along with.
Porter: Eh, you can do without it. At times I would have loved to have had someone to carry my bag, but I love that I did it without the help. My bag was around 9-11kg depending on what I was wearing. I wish it had been lighter. If you can’t carry that much on your back, then get a porter. Plus, getting a porter gives someone a job.
Guide: You really don’t need one (unless you’re trekking alone, in which case I think you need a guide for safety purposes). We had a guide for 4 days towards the end and he proved to be very helpful in the end. It’s good to have someone who actually knows the language with you, just in case something happens. The latter part of the trek had unclear trails, due to crumbling rocks and snow. You can get a guide in Lukla, Kathmandu, or Namche.
Permits: Two permits are required, one from the government which you can get in Kathmandu and then one from the national park which you get during the trek.
Flight: The cheapest way to get a flight seems to be through a travel agency. Book the flight while in Kathmandu, and book an open return flight. The weather has to be perfect on your flying day, otherwise the flights will be very delayed, or worse, cancelled. Before arriving back in Lukla, call to confirm your flight or ask your teahouse to do so for you. When coming back, get to the airport an hour before your flight, and just wait. Cross your fingers that you’ll get to leave.
Route: The 12 day route we did was the fastest and safest option with three acclimatization days (added an extra so our group would be back on track). Could be longer if you decide to add the Three Passes, Gokyo Lakes (which I wish I had done), etc. Get familiar with your route. Buy a map. Get this app. Know where you’re going to stop for the day and spend the night. You don’t want to reach somewhere in the dark.
Day 1: Flight to Lukla (2,652m), Trek to Benkar
Day 2: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 3: Acclimatization day hike to Shyangboche
Day 4: Trek to Debuche
Day 5: Trek to Dingboche
Day 6: Acclimatization day hike to the nearby mountain
Day 7: Acclimatization day hike to Chukhung
Day 8: Trek to Lobuche at (4,955m)
Day 9: Trek to Gorak Shep (5,395m), go to Everest Base Camp
Day 10: Climb Kalapattar, Trek to Pheriche
Day 11: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 12: Trek to Lukla
Day 13: Fly Back to Kathmandu
Wifi/Service/Charging: There is no reception in the mountains. There is reception at Base Camp, so you can make a call to your friends and family to tell them you made it! The last spot for free wifi is at Namche Bazaar. Some tea houses along the way have wifi that you can pay for. You have to pay to charge your electronics so bring external batteries. My camera battery lasted the entire time without a charge, though I did have to recharge my phone a few times.
Trekking to Everest Base Camp was an amazing, unforgettable experience! Truly life-changing. Hopefully this information has been helpful, if not, I can answer questions directly.
